http://www.rutlandherald.com/article/20140122/NEWS02/701229967
Published January 22, 2014 in the Rutland Herald Springfield finalizes town budget of $10.7 million By SUSAN SMALLHEER Staff Writer SPRINGFIELD — The Select Board added about $250,000 to its proposed 2014-2015 budget bringing it to $10.7 million, adding staff in the fire and police departments, and increasing the money for road reconstruction. The Select Board met with the budget advisory committee Monday night and went through the budget, department by department. They cut some purchases, including a new $55,000 truck for the Parks and Recreation Department, to soften the impact of the increases. The budget as it now stands will go to a public hearing at 6 p.m. tonight at the town hall, and be finalized for inclusion in the town meeting warning. As proposed, the budget would increase municipal taxes by 2.8 percent, or roughly $54 on a $150,000 home. It is one of the smaller increases in recent years: Last year’s budget was up 3.07 percent, the year before that was 2.55 percent, and three years ago it was 3.83 percent, according to Town Comptroller Jeffrey Mobus. One budget committee member, James Soucy, said he personally was willing to pay $20 more per year for another police officer. The estimated cost of the officer is about $15 a year for the average taxpayer. Many of the decisions to increase the budget came on a 3-2 vote, with Select Board members Kristi Morris, Peter MacGillivray and Stephanie Gibson Thompson voting in favor, and Selectmen Michael Knoras and David Yesman opposing the additions. One of the most contentious issues was the funding for two organizations, Springfield On The Move and Springfield Regional Development Corp. Thompson made a motion to include $50,000 for “economic development” in the budget — $30,000 for Springfield Regional Development Corp and $20,000 for Springfield On The Move. Yesman and Knoras said they supported the funding but that it violated the town charter to include funding for the two outside organizations in the budget. They said the funds should be voted as special appropriations, separate from the budget, at town meeting. But Thompson, citing a legal opinion from Town Attorney Stephen Ankuda, said the money could be included in the Select Board’s budget as “economic development.” She said the two organizations provided the town a lot of value that would cost far more if the town had to hire an economic development staff. In the end, Morris, the board chairman, broke the tie and included the funding in the budget. While all of the Select Board members appeared to favor adding staff to the overworked police and fire departments, their differences came on how to pay for it. Yesman and Knoras wanted the funding to come out of the departments’ overtime budgets. In the end, the police overtime budget was cut by $20,000, and the fire department’s by $10,000. The cost of full-time staff, including overtime and benefits, was set at $77,000 for police and $66,000 for the fire department. Many of the increases were supported by the budget committee, but again the differences came in how to fund them. The budget group wanted the cost of the new police officer, for instance, to come entirely from the department’s substantial overtime budget.
No wonder the school wanted to cut budget because they probably worked hand in hand with the town knowing that two increases wouldn't make it. No way am I voting for a town increase. Enough is enough. Cut your benefits guys and sell off those cruisers. If mayberry made it with two cars so will Springfield.
ReplyDeleteIn what Springfield do you live in? The Town Board and School Board never even work together let alone collude together.
DeleteMayberry didn't have a heroin or slumlord problem either.
Why does a town this size even need a full time fire department? Why are tax payers paying for multiple full time EMS positions? Most are run by private companies? What happens to the insurance money they get for services anyway? Ambulance rides are not cheap...
ReplyDeleteDo the police really need to repave their parking lot when so many other people are being asked to make cuts?
When so many other people are being asked to tighten their belts it only makes sense that the town do the same.
Sounds like you clearly don't understand how it works. Your questions are valid and easily answered if you ask the right people. Your tripping over dollar bills to pick up dimes.
DeleteIf they are easily answered, and you know, by all means, please elucidate. Also, please explain how it is tripping over dollars to pick up dimes?
DeleteSorry, trying to use this forum as an educational site on town working systems would be like trying to get my dog to go outside and shovel snow for me. No matter how truthful someone might be here on valid issues, there isn't a single one of "us" that will listen or actually change their opinion and perceptions.
DeleteGreat comment. It is unfortunate the when people post here they think they are doing their civic duty. I hate to tell you folks, but complaining on a blog wont lower your taxes or improve your schools.
DeleteI find it so interesting that once again that the incumbents on the school board and select board will be unnopposed.
For all the complaining I hear around town it cant be that bad if someone isn't willing to step up and challenge the leadership.
I agree. Paving the parking lot is a no brainer. Look at our roads that we all drive on. The parking lot can wait.... a long time as far as I am concerned unless there is a reason of which I am unaware.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations Springfield taxpayers, you've won ANOTHER TAX INCREASE! This is like Publisher's Clearing House coming to your door each and every year, but in reverse! They've come to TAKE your check away from you!
ReplyDeleteWhy does the Parks and Rec director need a vehicle paid for by the town, let alone a $55,000 one? Does he not receive a paycheck paid for by our tax dollars? Maybe he should do like the rest of us and buy his own transportation to work. I bet it wouldn't cost him $55,000.
ReplyDeleteits to replace the truck they have not one for the director
DeleteClearly the town does not want to keep any more home owners from selling homes and leaving this town. There are MANY other ways to allow for spending cuts then raising property taxes time and time again. I totally see this town going deeper in a hole and possibly turning in to another Detroit if this keeps up. The town should be looking for ways to allow the home owners to stay, want to stay and ways to bring more to the Springfield economy- in helping to rebuild this town. Raising taxes is not the way!!
ReplyDeleteSigned, a very upset home owner that is really asking why, why,why can't this town finally do something!! Ask yourself who would want to come in to this town, and then who would want to stay???
But haven't you been listening? By increasing budgets and raising taxes, it will make the town a virtual utopia that everybody will want to move to, engage in commerce, and raise their families. It must be true because I read it here, posted by advocates of increased school and town budgets! Of course, I've been waiting for Springfield's population to surge for the past 20-30 years as the town continued to employ its "If you tax them, they will come" grand strategy. No results yet, but this is government, so you have to pardon them for their lack of results and give them more time to completely invalidate their bankrupt strategy!
ReplyDeleteSo, 5:47, how much have Springfield's taxes been raised in the last 20-30 years? Maybe that explains why the theoryyou attribute to them isn't working….
DeleteThe Police Department is NOT repaving the parking lot but filling in the cracks and seal coating it. To pave a lot that size would cost $150,000 dollars. Instead they are trying to preserve the pavement to extend the life of it so they don't have to repave it. Unfortunately this was not correctly reported in the paper.
ReplyDeleteLook at the board members of Springfield on the move and you can tell why its in the budget , Steph you should be ashamed of your self and Peter too.
ReplyDelete